Dodge City Roundup, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation formed to promote our Western Heritage through rodeos, horse shows, roping contests, and related activities. These activities appeal to participants of all ages and an audience that reflects today's active lifestyle.
When the committee decided to create a PRCA rodeo in 1977, it was with the idea that it would never be just another stop on the road. There would be big prize money, top stock and the best contract personnel in the sport – quality in every aspect of the production.The formula was an immediate hit with fans and contestants, making Dodge City one of the most decorated events in ProRodeo history. It has nine times been honored as a PRCA Rodeo Committee of the Year, and six of those awards came in the days when there was only one category covering all 600-plus PRCA-sanctioned rodeos.
Dodge City shared the award in 1985 with Phoenix and Santa Maria, Calif., and shared it again with Reno, Nev., in 1987, but claimed the award outright in 1986 and from 1988-90. Roundup won the Outdoor Rodeo Committee of the Year award in 1991-92 and its ninth PRCA award came in 2001 when it was voted the Large Outdoor Rodeo Committee of the Year. It continues to be consistently nominated as one of five nominees as PRCA Large Outdoor Rodeo.
The rodeo is annually the centerpiece of the Dodge City Days festival. Dodge City Days, a ten-day community and area-wide event, takes place each year in late July and early August. Our Dodge City Days event is the second largest community event held in the entire state of Kansas! During that time, the arena is packed with championship cowboys and cowgirls cheered on by the greatest rodeo fans.
At its inception (Summer 1977), Dodge City Roundup had 175 contestants with a payout of $8,200.In 2019, the rodeo had grown to five full nights of rodeo action, and a night of Xtreme Bulls and freestyle bullfighting, with nearly 800 contestants competing at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, and a payout of over $328,000! It is the richest rodeo in the state of Kansas in contestant payout. Dodge City Roundup is able to present one of the top rodeos in the nation in partnership with many local, area, and national sponsors.
The Dodge City Roundup Rodeo was selected by Time Magazine as one of the "50 Authentic American Experiences" in September 2008. This selection is limited to one "experience" for each of the fifty (50) United States. In July of 2012, Dodge City Roundup Rodeo was inducted into PRCA Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, and in 2018 was voted "#1 Rodeo in North American" by USA Today's 10Best. In 2023 Dodge City Roundup Rodeo was listed in Rodeo News as the 19th rodeo in the US based on total payout with a payout of over $468,000.
Dodge City Roundup, Inc. was home to one of the nation's oldest and longest running Little Britches Rodeos, attracting contestants and their families from nearly a dozen states until 2018. Dodge City Roundup, Inc is also the host of Kansas HS and JR rodeo as well as KPRA Finals. The Miss Rodeo Kansas Queen and Teen Pageants call Dodge City Roundup their home.